Fe-inserted and shell-shaped carbon nanoparticles by cluster-mediated laser pyrolysis

► Iron-inserted carbon nanoparticles were obtained by laser pyrolysis technique. ► Two different structures (shell-shape and turbostratic) were found in the same experiment. ► Increasing the pressure causes the increasing in carbon crystallinity/decreasing the Fe content. ► Iron nanoinclusions are protected from oxidation by the carbon matrix. ► Magnetism-related applications of these nanoparticles in life sciences are proposed.